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Service Learning / Internships

At South Mountain, we believe one of the best ways to learn something is by DOING it.

It’s called “experiential education.” Humans have always learned through direct experience. Experiential education is about doing and being connected to the outside world. Experiential learning is positive, meaningful, and real!

SMCC’s Experiential Education program focuses on your total development as a student. Active learning taking place outside of the classroom provides meaningful opportunities for our students.

Our Experiential Education program, which includes Service Learning and Internship, is overseen by SMCC Career Services. This program supports our students, faculty, and community agencies through a variety of activities, including:

Finding service opportunities within our community

Helping place students at volunteer agencies

Monitoring student progress and volunteer hours

Coordinating major volunteer projects

Providing presentations on Service Learning activities

You can find out more about Service Learning and Internships available at SMCC under the tabs above.

Service Learning combines community service with academic instruction. Service Learning provides students with an opportunity to apply what they learn in the classroom to a meaningful experience in the “real world.”

Service Learning emphasizes…

Critical thinking

Practical problem-solving

Values clarification

Social and personal development

Civic and community responsibility

Service Learning benefits students by…

Making curriculum relevant to students’ lives

Enabling students to feel connected

Encouraging multicultural awareness

Establishing links with the community

Service Learning benefits the community by…

Providing valuable volunteer assistance from SMCC students

Establishing direct links to student learning

Building community awareness

Service Learning benefits the SMCC Campus by…

Providing meaningful experiences for SMCC students

Providing meaningful service to the community

Promoting community awareness of college programs and services

For SMCC Faculty….

Service Learning validates teaching and enhances learning

Service Learning builds classroom community

Service Learning provides your class with a primary research opportunity

SMCC offers students the chance to participate in our Internship program, which helps students get on-the-job training and experience at local businesses or community service agencies. Students learn by observing and evaluating their internship experience. Internships may be paid or unpaid, for-credit or not-for-credit.